UPDATE PAGE 8 - A very serious issue with WDW...

[janni518]

We had a similar experience with the buses this past May, but the resort was the Beach Club.

 

[photobob]

We had some long waits at BWV in June. Not all were long but we had one that was 1 hour and 15 minutes. We were trying to get to AK for extra evening hours, we went to the bus stop at 6 and were picked up at 7:15. During that time we had (no joke) 7 buses for DTD. I stopped one of the DTD buses to talk, very nicely, to a bus driver. I told him how long we had been waiting for an AK bus and that the reason he didn't have any takers for DTD was that he was the fifth DTD pickup in the last 30 minutes. He said he had to go where dispatch told him. He said he'd call dispatch and tell them of our problem. We had people calling all over trying to get a bus for us.

To be fair that was the only really bad experience we had. We did have a 30+ minute wait going from AK back to BW. I really like solely using Disney transportation and I have a car with us since we drive, but I have always felt not driving was a part of my reality escape. I hope bus service doesn't get to the point that I must drive everywhere, I'd really rather not.

 

[DisneyMim]

I had to chime in here too. We were at BC this past August (not on points this time, it was a cash stay, but really doesn't matter). The bus service was horrible. We always rent a car, but this time is was just my daughter and I and I thought we'd use the buses. Our shortest wait was 30 minutes. We shared a bus with YC, BW, and Swan and Dolphin. Way too many people. We ended up taking a taxi three times. I did complain and the manager told me that they have been having a lot on complaints and they were "looking into it". I do agree with the fact about higher fuel costs, etc. Yes, it does ruin your vacation. I know some people say to just chill and wait, but using 8-10 hours of my vacation time waiting for a bus is not my idea of a good time. Sorry to hear about your trip and I didn't mean to be so long, but just had to add my 2 cents.

 

[SunnieRN]

We were in WDW for the first time about two weeks ago now. We did a split stay between Shades of Green )4 nights) and SSR (after we joined DVC) for 4 nights.
The bus service at shades of green was great. The buses were clean and the bus drivers VERY polite and helpful!

At SSR, where we stayed for 4 nights, the bus service was great! The disney bus drivers were not as helpful or polite as the shades of green drivers, but we never waited over 15 min for a bus to or from there.
Only one time did we have an extended wait and that was at the polynesian. People were waiting and stated they had been waiting for at least thirty min. for all destinations. We waited for 45 min. and in that time, two buses came through that had no destination, drivers on a break I guess, but they left the buses running right at the benches where people were waiting....yet two magic kingdom busses came by in that same amount of time... odd since you can walk a block and be at the magic kingdom...
I must say that there were MANY very nice people there that helped my daughter and I with "the beast", her double stroller. It was very impressive at shades of green though. All the bus drivers helped her get her stoller in and out of the bus.....great service, one of the disney drivers did and the rest were at least patient.
All around a good experience. Hope our next trip will go as well.

 

[disneyfan2kids]

... doubt it'll do much, but at least maybe they'll know that people are mad enough to document it in writing. I'll keep you all informed.

I'm a little sad...my DVC has lost some of it's shine now. I just don't know how the buses could've gotten SO bad SO fast :-(

 

[Mississippian]

Cons - I cannot say enough how horrible the bus system was. Our SHORTEST wait for a bus was about 35 - 40 minutes. Had SEVERAL waits close to an hour just for a bus. It was really horrible. Beings that we went to 2 parks a day and had dropoff and pickup for each park...we had to wait for approx. 4 busses daily. At an average of 45-50 minutes EACH. I approximated that we spent over 8 hours (of our vacation) just simply waiting for buses. It truly ruined our trip. We had ADR's for California Grill at 6:15 for our anniversary. We got to bus stop at 4:45 (assuming we'd hang at the bar at CG while we waited for table.) We waited until 5:50 for a MK bus. Yes, 1 hour and 5 minutes for 1 single MK bus. I was literally in tears at one point. We were all dressed up - sitting in the florida heat for over an hour. I called the front desk 3 times from the stop and (as they did the other dozen times I called for the buses this weekend...they simply said "It'll come soon.") Despite having left an hour and a half early for our ADR's we were instead 20 minutes LATE for our ressie. Luckily they seated us anyway.

Literally every SINGLE bus we took was a minimum of 35 - 40 minutes. Many were an hour wait (twice we waited over an hour!).

I try to limit my stays to resorts that are within walking distance of the parks, and rarely use buses. Certainly Disney does not need any more DVC bus resorts. Most members hate the buses.

 

[moredisneyplease]

sorry this happened to you! Definitely write to them!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I had the same issues with transportation in 2005! at WL.

We left AK at 4:00 pm, stopped by our WL room to ONLY grab a jacket, and then was off on a ferry to the MK. We were 1/2 hour late for a 6:30 ressie at LTT. Yes, it took 3 hours to get from AK to MK with a 5 minute stop at WL.
I know that going by WL added time, but 3 hours still seems excessive. We shared busses with GF, and got verbally snobbed by drunk teenagers leaving DTD to boot.

My point is that Disney had periodically gone through bad transportation periods.

I am so glad that Disney has gotten over its idea that to give you that true wilderness feeling, you need a genuine feeling of abandonment.

I guess Disney just wants you to get plenty of time to enjoy all the detail and workmanship they have put into the lovely bus stops.

 

[Juliet25]

We experienced the same problem on our Dec. trip. The bus wait times were truly disgraceful. I guess it's a symptom of SSR being such a big resort. I know complaining about bus times are a big topic on the DIS, but I think the criticism of SSR's bus service is truly deserved.

 

[Tozzie]

I stayed at SSR 9/14-9/19 and the bus service was fantastic. Never waited more than 10 minutes tops for a bus. It is sad that services changes this drastically week to week hopefully WDW gets a handle on it soon

 

[TiaMaria]

... doubt it'll do much, but at least maybe they'll know that people are mad enough to document it in writing. I'll keep you all informed.

I'm a little sad...my DVC has lost some of it's shine now. I just don't know how the buses could've gotten SO bad SO fast :-(

You know this is the ODDEST thing: My sis and I stayed at SSR last week also - 9/23-27 - 4 nights. We stayed in Grandstand and never waited more than 20 minutes (and only 1 time waited that long) for a bus. Now, of course, Grandstand is the first stop coming and going at SSR - but it's not like we skipped any of the other sections. The only 20 minute wait was on Friday - waiting for the MK bus for MNSSHP about 6:15PM. Then of course traffic getting into the park was slow also. That happened to coincide with F&W beginning at Epcot - but we generally saw 2 Epcot busses at a time.

How could our 2 situations be so different? Maybe timing? We went to the parks about 10AM each day - more often than not came home and went back out again about 5-7PM and then stayed until they kicked us out - never waited more than 10 minutes coming home at night either.

Bizzare.

 

[cobbler]

See bus service in general at ANY resort can be a crapshoot. I had great service at Pop (read luck), then horrible at the Contemporary. Great at SSR and CBR and horrible at other places. Honestly I don't think you can rate any resort by it's bus service because inevitably its just luck of the draw.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

of course once you realize it is a problem it is to late. but you could ride the Epcot bus and take the monrail.

I would used the EPCOT bus as an option too....anything to get moving.
Or take a bus to DTD and then hop on a resort bus to the Contemporary.

 

[cpdwiz]

That is exactly why I will never stay at SSR ever again! We tried it last year, and it is one of our home resorts, and it was terrible!

Why in the world would they ever make a resort that takes so long to get to the parks? It's really not that far, so there is seriously something wrong with the bus system they have set up. I stayed at the AK and it wasn't anything close to the nonsense we put up with regarding the buses at SSR.

In May we stayed at our "home" ssr, and had not one bus problem. Longest wait was about 10 minutes.

 

[lugnut33]

I think the bus service is about as good as can be expected for a "free" service. However, I'll never ever use it again.

 

[5 for WDW]

We had wonderful bus service at SSR last September but, terrible service at OKW this past June. I was at BWV last December and it wasn't great either ( Of course, walking to two parks is a huge plus there!!).
I think all resorts have bus issues at times. We consider it more luck then reflection of the resort.

I am sorry you had such terrible bus issues. I know it can put a real damper on a vacation.

 

[itsreally4mommy]

It's hardly "free". WDW knows what they're doing by offering "free services". It is keeping folks in their resorts and on WDW property spending $$$$. But the allure is certainly fading w/such disastrous experience. If nothing else WHY does WDW put up w/it? They're getting terribly substandard results from the dispatch/transportation service!

 

[kimberh]

I just had someone tell me that they had very similiar issues at AKV the first week of Sept. When we stayed there in May, we had one trip where we had a long wait. It could be they are using fewer buses to save money because the price of gas is outrageous! It does need corrected. I have my car at Disney, I don't want to have to start using it.

 

[DeeCee735]

Just returned yesterday from a 4 day getaway for my anniversary. It was just me and my DH (no kids) and we a serious issue:

Pros - Parks were great! Low crowds! Room at SSR was clean and had a beautiful view of the Paddocks fountain. We were directly across the street (Paddocks section) from the Congress Park bus stop.

Cons - I cannot say enough how horrible the bus system was. Our SHORTEST wait for a bus was about 35 - 40 minutes. Had SEVERAL waits close to an hour just for a bus. It was really horrible. Beings that we went to 2 parks a day and had dropoff and pickup for each park...we had to wait for approx. 4 busses daily. At an average of 45-50 minutes EACH. I approximated that we spent over 8 hours (of our vacation) just simply waiting for buses. It truly ruined our trip. We had ADR's for California Grill at 6:15 for our anniversary. We got to bus stop at 4:45 (assuming we'd hang at the bar at CG while we waited for table.) We waited until 5:50 for a MK bus. Yes, 1 hour and 5 minutes for 1 single MK bus. I was literally in tears at one point. We were all dressed up - sitting in the florida heat for over an hour. I called the front desk 3 times from the stop and (as they did the other dozen times I called for the buses this weekend...they simply said "It'll come soon.") Despite having left an hour and a half early for our ADR's we were instead 20 minutes LATE for our ressie. Luckily they seated us anyway.

Literally every SINGLE bus we took was a minimum of 35 - 40 minutes. Many were an hour wait (twice we waited over an hour!).

In the future - I may have to rent a car and (as a result) eat/visit off site. The MAIN draw for me has always been the ease of the bus system which has completely lost any/all appeal for me.

If I knew who to write to... I would. The bus system genuinely ruined an otherwise great trip for us.

I'd pay for a cab before I'd let the bus experience ruin my trip. We are not going to have the car on our upcoming family trip, for the first time. I already told my husband we have to include cab fare in the budget, he readily agreed. Cabs are almost always right outside the resort, if not bell services will summon one right away, no longer a wait than a couple of minutes. For the parks, they take you right to the entrance, and of course, same goes for the resorts.

Sorry you had so much wasted time on your trip, hope next time is better.

 

[boettj]

I have had a similar experience at Port Orleans - Riverside. I went out of my mind with the bus system. I didn't call the front desk. I called the dispatch.


What did we learn? You cannot count on the bus system to make ADR's. If you are like us, then you need to either rent a car or take a taxi for your ADR's. We are a multiple park, plus naps in the middle of the day. That type of schedule does not bode well for the bus system.


Rule: ADR'S = rental car or taxi